Our professional reviewers evaluate products and services independently, but Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on the links on our pages. Learn more.

Harry & David vs Magic Kitchen

To help you find the Best Meal Delivery, TopConsumerReviews.com provides you with an in-depth comparison of Harry & David and Magic Kitchen.

To see ALL of our reviews for the Best Meal Delivery, please Click Here

Who is the best Meal Delivery company? Are you looking for a way to simplify dinner after a long day at work? Using a meal delivery service has become an easy way of getting nourishing, flavorful food on the table without the hassle of grocery shopping.

Of course, the most popular reason for using a meal delivery company is the convenience. Customers love being able to order their favorite entrees, side dishes, or even appetizers and desserts, and to choose how much cooking they'd like to do. Some meal delivery services are reheat-and-eat, while others provide you with all of the ingredients you need to create a restaurant-quality meal in your own kitchen.

Meal Delivery Reviews

Have you ever been invited to a work party, community potluck, or even hosted an event where making an impression matters? Did you draw a blank on what you could bring, or even feel some anxiety over what recipe in your repertoire could live up to the expectations? The next time you find yourself in that predicament, you should consider letting Harry & David do the work.

You may already know of this business because of their long reputation for helping people with their gift-giving needs: gourmet foods, gift baskets, chocolates and more. Harry & David also has good selection of reheat (if necessary) and serve, delectable appetizers, entrees, and other choices, whether you want to be the hero of your office party or just take the stress out of planning a special-occasion dinner
in your own home.

Although their selection isn't as broad as some of the meal delivery services we reviewed - just under 40 selections to choose from - you can still find a good assortment that ranges from appetizers like an Antipasto Wine Pairing Collection to mouth-watering main courses like Salmon Wellington or a Steak and Lobster Feast. Most of the choices for meal delivery have customer reviews in their descriptions, to help you
know what to expect when your food comes. Harry & David's best-seller, with more than five dozen reviews and a 4.5/5-star average, is the Sliced Ham and Turkey, priced at $64.99.

Harry & David has a superb reputation for customer satisfaction. Should you get a meal delivery that doesn't meet your expectations (or your party guests'), you should have no problem getting a refund or replacement. Another reason customers like using Harry & David is their Celebrations Passport membership. For an annual fee of $29.99, you get a year of free shipping across a group of brands that includes
Simply Chocolate, The Popcorn Factory, and 1-800-Flowers. Even if you only plan on ordering a few times within a year, the savings could be significant; shipping costs on a single item at Harry & David's can be as much as $11.99, so the Passport would pay for itself quickly over two or three gift-giving or dining occasions.

If you need a special-occasion meal for yourself or for an event, Harry & David is a solid choice. But, for many people who are looking for meal delivery services, this provider's options are pretty limited to once-in-a-while treats, not every day reheat-and-eat dinners or fresh-and-healthy meals to nourish them at the end of the working day.

Shipping rates start at $18-$20 per order, depending on weight and distance

Created in 2005 with a focus on providing restaurant-quality, healthy meals for seniors and others, Magic Kitchen strives to cover a wide variety of dietary needs. All meals are prepared, flash-frozen, and ready to be reheated. You won't need any extra dishes, pots and pans, or kitchen tools - making this a convenient option for people who don't like to cook or who don't have access to a full kitchen.

Each meal usually has an entree with two sides. Some of their more popular selections include Basil Chicken with Rice & Zucchini Sauté, Eggplant Parmigiana with Polenta & Spinach, and Salmon Caponata with Orzo & Spinach.

We were impressed with the wide range of dietary needs that Magic Kitchen addresses. You can find them listed under the "Dietary Interest" section:

Diabetic-Friendly

Portion Controlled

Dialysis-Friendly

Renal Diet (CKD 3&4)

Dairy-Free

Gluten-Free

Low-Fat

Low-Sodium

Low-Carb

Senior Diet

Vegetarian

Depending on your needs, you can choose to order a la carte or through a meal program. A la carte options are broken down by Mains, Soups, Sides, Desserts and Snacks. While most of these choices come in either complete meal packages or in two-serving sizes, you can find some options designated as "family size" - ideal for those times when Grandma might be having company over for a meal or when friends stop by for
dessert.

In order to sign up for a meal program, you'll have to contact Magic Kitchen via phone or email - you can't place your order online. While that is less convenient than most of the meal delivery services in our review, it gives you the opportunity to custom-design the exact package that meets your needs. Your cost will depend on the specific plan you create, but Magic Kitchen offers an example program for your reference:

Low Sodium/Diabetic/Senior Complete Meal Program for 1 Person

1 complete meal (breakfast, lunch, or dinner): $75-$85 for 7 days

2 complete meals (choose two from breakfast/lunch/dinner): $150-$165 for 7 days

3 complete meals (breakfast, lunch, and dinner): $225-$250 for 7 days

These programs don't require you to sign a contract or make any other long-term commitments; you can have them shipped automatically and have meals sent weekly, every two weeks, or monthly. You can choose your own meals, or have the Magic Kitchen staff select for you within the parameters you select.

If you sign up for Magic Kitchen's email newsletter, you may be able to save money: we got a pop-up offering a discount of 10% off our next purchase. Those newsletters give you access to inside deals, so it's definitely worth it if you plan on being a long-term customer.

We like Magic Kitchen's 100% satisfaction guarantee. If anything arrives in damaged or spoiled condition, they will replace it at no cost to you. Similarly, if any of the foods you try don't meet your satisfaction, Magic Kitchen will either replace it in your next order or give you a credit. The company strives to have 24/7 phone coverage, with core hours of operation from 7:30A-11:30P Central, 7 days a week.

All orders are shipped from Magic Kitchen's warehouse in Kansas City, KS, using dry ice in a reusable, recyclable Styrofoam container. Expect to pay a minimum of $18-$20 for delivery; costs depend on the actual weight of your order and the shipping distance.

So, how do the actual meals measure up? On the one hand, many of the customers who match Magic Kitchen's targeted audience - senior citizens looking for healthy, easy to prepare/reheat meal options - say that it's been a great choice. We were glad to see some caregivers and loved ones saying that their 80-something mother is a picky eater that actually loved what she got with no exceptions. On the other hand, what
they have to offer may not be a great fit for most people looking for meal delivery. Some reviews said that the food was watery after being reheated, and even the photos of the entree-plus-two-sides meals were unappetizing in a lot of cases. And, with an average serving cost of $12 and up for most foods, we think many customers will be looking for more than just a TV dinner-style meal delivery plan.

Magic Kitchen does a good job of giving options for seniors and others with strict dietary needs who might only have access to a microwave. But, their pricing is expensive, and their options might not appeal to younger customers who don't mind spending a little time in the kitchen to create a more restaurant-quality meal.

As these services have grown in popularity, the types of meals and plans has expanded as well. Has your doctor recently put you on a special diet, and you're not sure how to incorporate it into your lifestyle? Whether you're adapting to a diet that's low in carbs, diabetic-friendly, or even gluten-free, you'll find a meal delivery program that can help.

Are you interested in becoming a vegetarian but unfamiliar with how to create a balanced meal? Once again, there's a meal delivery service for that - use it for a few weeks to get ideas of lunches and dinners that you can recreate, or for as long as you like as you adapt to your clean, green way of eating.

As you consider which meal delivery service is best for you, you'll quickly see that they vary greatly when it comes to price, preparation, and types of food offered. Keep these criteria in mind as you decide which company fits your needs:

Reputation. What do past and current customers have to say about the meals they received and the overall experience, from ordering to delivery?

Cost. What will you spend for the meal delivery plan you choose, whether you opt for a la carte entrees or regularly-scheduled weekly or monthly shipments?

Variety. Does the meal delivery provider have an appetizing range of flavors and cuisines to choose from? Will you be able to select meals that you'll actually want to eat?

Satisfaction Guarantee. If you're unhappy with the service, the quality of the food, or the condition of the meals at the time of delivery, can you get a refund or a replacement?

TopConsumerReviews.com has reviewed and ranked the best meal delivery services available today. We hope these reviews help you find the service that puts the food that you're craving on the table right away!

Forgot the milk and bread Well, don't worry because the winter storm won't stop many restaurants and food delivery services from bringing the food and groceries to you. "We're prepared," said Debbie ...

The 5-mile radius covers all of the local schools and corporate office buildings, but Brown said the main focus is foot delivery to businesses downtown. The cafe currently uses Uber Eats, the online f...

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - When you think of winter weather preparedness, you normally think of INDOT trucks and city plows dropping salt on roads. However, there's other people who also hit the street...